NASCAR's Brian France fires another shot at stock car teams attempting to manipulate the Richmond 400, and adds Jeff Gordon to the playoffs

Upon further review, Jeff Gordon makes it a 13-man chase (Photo: Getty Images for NASCAR)

(Updated)

By Mike Mulhernmikemulhern.net

Jeff Gordon will get a shot at the championship this fall after all, with NASCAR's Brian France stepping directly into Richmond chase controversies and making some dramatic and pointed decisions, on the eve of the first race of the playoffs, Sunday's Chicago 400.
"Based on all of our findings this week, we determined both Front Row Motorsports and Penske Racing organizations would be placed on probation for the remainder of this season," a somber and clearly aggravated France announced Friday afternoon at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet.
"Additionally, based upon the totality of our findings, to be fair and equitable we decided that adding a 13th car to this year’s Chase is the appropriate action.
"Beginning with our decision Monday, which resulted in an unprecedented team penalty, and continuing with further examination of actions involving two other race teams, it is clear to us that attempts to manipulate the results impacted the Chase field.
"The integrity of our sport remains the cornerstone of NASCAR, and our actions this week speak to our commitment to ensure a level playing field for all competitors."
France, with NASCAR president Mike Helton beside him, said there will be a mandatory meeting with drivers, owners, crew chiefs and other team personnel Saturday "to address this issue moving forward."

Rick Hendrick, Gordon's team owner, praised France for taking further steps, following Monday's initial penalties.
"What occurred at Richmond was not of their making, and they’ve had to wrestle with some very difficult decisions throughout the week," Hendrick said in a statement. "I know everything done by NASCAR has been a sincere effort to be fair and ultimately do what’s best for our sport and our fans."

NASCAR CEO Brian France is not pleased with some of the shenanigans at Richmond Saturday night -- and he adds Roger Penske and Front Row to the penalty list (Photo: Getty Images for NASCAR)

"We believe in looking at all of it that there were too many things that altered the event and gave an unfair disadvantage to Jeff and his team, who would have qualified, and I have the authority to do that," France said. " We are going to do that.

"It is an unprecedented and extraordinary thing, but it's also an unprecedented and extraordinary set of circumstances that unfolded in multiple different ways on Saturday night, and we believe this was the right outcome to protect the integrity, which is our number one goal of NASCAR.

"We will (Saturday) be clarifying in a significant way the rules of racing and the rules of the road going forward, and we will be looking forward to that meeting and addressing the media after that, after we meet with the teams to clarify that with certainly with the media and our fan base.

"What we're going to do is we're going to protect, no matter what it takes, the integrity of the sport will never be in question, and that's what we're going to make sure, that we have the right rules going forward that are clear so that the integrity of the competitive landscape of the events are not altered in a way or manipulated.

"There are lines.They will be much clearer coming out of tomorrow than they are today.But listen, the most important thing is the integrity of the event, and we'll deal with that.

"We will address the media after we address the teams.

"We did not conclusively determine that Penske Racing and Front Row Motorsports actually did anything in terms of on the track that we can conclusively say there was a quid pro quo or altering of the event.We're looking at the radio discussions, who had those discussions -- the idea of a bargain that is completely off limits in our view.

"But we don't believe that bargain ever happened... and we don't believe anything happened, other than the discussions about it. And that's why the probation is sending we think an appropriate message."

Protect the integrity of the sport? What a joke. Where is the media rage over the bogus yellow that gave Jeff the lucky dog? I called the caution as soon as Jeff passes Vickers and sure enough 2 laps after Jeff got into the lucky dog position out comes a debris caution and in the words of DJ. The debris is in turn 3 against the wall. Is NASCAR going to start penalizing teams now for allowing a teammate to lead a lap. MWR did not break a rule, Hendrick wasn't smart enough to keep a car on the track to stop joey from getting the lucky dog thus putting Jeff in 10th and knocking out Ryan and Martin..

But once NASCAR figured that out, they caved to government motors and Hendrick motor sports

After all that happened at Richmond last week, I would think that NASCAR should limit to 1 the number of cars ran by an owner in Nationwide and cup and truck racing. It should also limit which league that a specific driver wants to race in. It would allow the up and comers a chance to race.

This is about the most blatant example of favoritism I've see in my 20 years of watching NASCAR racing. Martin Truex has unfairly reaped what the idiot Michael Waltrip sowed. And to top it off, Henrick has been rewarded for something not earned. What a microcosm of what is wrong with this country. The Biggies get it all, deserved or not, and the working Joe-or in this case, Martin Truex, gets the shaft. And so we learn it really isn't about fairness, but rather, it is about who has the most clout. should have known how it would go down. truly sad. I suppose we can only invoke Karma for the Hendrick teams. It also appears to be really easy to convince oneself that one deserves to be in the chase, regardless of how poorly one did in the regular season. Feel good about it, Jeff? hmmmm?

Two Points that everyone seems to be missing...
1. The Job that every driver, crew chief and team member is paid to do IS...
"Do everything possible within the rules, To WIN!" (In other words, Manipulate ALL Circumstances to Maximize Performance and RESULTS!)

2. The NASCAR rule-book says that any driver who intentionally causes a caution will be "Black-Flagge\" and held in the pits for a 3 lap penalty. (IMO...After that there should be "no more punishment.") In the truest sense of the word... No "cheating" really took place.

Clint Bowyer came into the pits for 2 laps, the maximum penalty due to Bowyer and MWR should be 1 more lap... but under the circumstances maybe it's acceptable for NASCAR to penalize the #15 another 3 laps and score it as the last car on that lap. When there is specific "Penalty Guidelines" for actions by participants/competitors, then those guidelines need to be followed to maintain credibility. NASCAR Is acknowledging that "causing yellow flags" is a common occurrence so they rightfully should penalize the #15... but only to the maximum stated in the rules! They are actually condoning the action by having such a "minor penalty." ("It's OK to Do The Crime, if you're willing to Do The Time!")

It seems that NASCAR just can't help themselves as they continue to "self-destruct!" Does HMS own NASCAR or do they "have something on BF?"

kahne should be out and johnson fined because if johnson had not run 40th and had run up front like normal kahne and gordon would have gotten less points talk about manipulating a sport hendrick is king jj was in a slump to let gordon get as many points as possible

So how is the rule change about racing 100% all the time going to effect the plate races where drivers purposely drop to the back and just ride around until the last 20 laps? Is NASCAR going to police that??

When I think of NASCAR the word "inconsistent" comes to mind and definitely not the word integrity. The only way to fix the mess they've got themselves into is to do away with the Chase entirely. That is what is causing these monkey shines by the teams in the first place. And place more emphasis on winning races and less on point racing.

Nascar should bring the air titan vacuum system to every track .Nascar should provide this for every track on the tour free of charge.There is no reason the race should have been delayed 7 hrs with the system nascar has.

Wait !let me guess nascar either wants the tracks to buy there own or rent it from them i'm guessing?

Nascar has the chase that no one but them like.They penalize drivers for answering a question honestly and now they have dictated who will be in the chase so I guess bringing the vacuum system to the track would have been too easy .